SQL Server REPLACE() Function

The REPLACE() function in SQL Server is used to substitute all occurrences of a specific substring within a string with a new substring. It's a fundamental string manipulation function.

REPLACE(): Definition and Usage

REPLACE() is a powerful tool for modifying text data. It's particularly useful for standardizing text, correcting typos, or making targeted changes to strings. Unlike some string functions, REPLACE() is case-sensitive. For more precise edits at specific string positions, consider using STUFF().

Syntax


REPLACE(string, old_string, new_string)

Parameter Values

Parameter	Description
`string`	The original string where the replacement will take place. This is required.
`old_string`	The substring to be replaced. This is required.
`new_string`	The substring that will replace all occurrences of `old_string`. This is required.

Examples

Replacing a Single Character

This example replaces all occurrences of the letter 'T' with 'M' in the string 'SQL Tutorial'.

Syntax


SELECT REPLACE('SQL Tutorial', 'T', 'M');

Output


SQL Muutorial

Replacing a Substring

This replaces 'SQL' with 'HTML'.

Syntax


SELECT REPLACE('SQL Tutorial', 'SQL', 'HTML');

Output


HTML Tutorial

Replacing a Character (Case-Sensitive)

Note that this is case-sensitive; only lowercase 'a' is replaced.

Syntax


SELECT REPLACE('ABC abc ABC', 'a', 'c');

Output


ABC cbc ABC